Chancery Court upholds Mayor Corker’s revocation of Cinema One adult establishment license

4/1/2003

Chattanooga, TN—In a written finding issued today by Chancellor Peoples, Mayor Bob Corker’s permanent revocation of Cinema One’s adult establishment license was upheld. 

The Chancellor’s action found that the revocation of the Cinema One’s adult business license by Mayor Corker and the City Council was proper.  It further found that the evidence which was presented overwhelmingly demonstrated that there was sexual activity on the Cinema One premises which violated City ordinance on multiple occasions. 

The Chancellor ordered that Cinema One cease and desist any further operation as an adult establishment or adult bookstore, as defined by the ordinance.  David Franklin’s (the owner of Cinema One) adult establishment license was also revoked and he will not be eligible to have such a license for 5 years per the Chattanooga ordinance.  In addition, the Chancellor prohibited the property at 4100 Rossville Boulevard from securing an adult establishment license or operating as an adult bookstore for 2 years, as provided by the ordinance.

City code requires that adult establishments renew their license on a yearly basis and that for their license to be renewed, they are subject to investigation by the Police Department.  As a result, for a year, the Chattanooga Police Department conducted a number of undercover visits at Cinema I and caught on video tape a number of illicit sexual acts which clearly violate city ordinance.  Based upon that information the Mayor chose to revoke the license of this establishment on November 8, 2002.

In a public hearing in November, the Chattanooga City Council upheld Mayor Corker’s revocation of Cinema One’s adult establishment license.  The city filed suit to uphold Mayor Corker’s revocation of the business license, and Chancellor People’s finding comes after a hearing in Chancery Court last week.

Cinema One will have 30 days to file an appeal with the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168

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